My online name, Ragtime Rachel, is perhaps a bit grandiose considering I play the piano rather poorly, but there is one piece I play rather well, and that's Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag." It was the song I heard Eubie Blake playing one day when I was twelve--he did it, as I recall, as part of a PBS special--and from then on, I was hooked, hopelessly, on ragtime. I had never heard anything quite like it, and endeavored to learn to play, simply to play that kind of music.

I was sorting throught papers and ran across the note with my user id and thought I would stop by and thank you all for all the kind words and thoughts after Bob's passing. We are getting by day by day but it seems harder this week knowing it has been nearly a year since he left us.

we are still dealing with the bill collectors and lawyers and the bank, but this too will pass.

We finally got up to sorting thru his varied collection of video tapes and dvd's, but there are numeros other things we haven;t had the emotional strenght to get to yet.

Thinking of ... one of my best friends. He was wonderful, caring, and accepting of me. He defended me against the bulling of others when in the Marine Corps.

He killed himself when in the throngs of depressions ... and I have missed him everyday since. I still remember his warm smile and beautiful blue eyes.

I miss him so much!

I was just complimented by a very nice young man on the street today.

That can be a validating, life-affirming moment for any woman my age, let alone a trans one. A reassurance that a man still finds us desirable. It was just the thing I needed, in light of my recent struggles.

I turned and said, "Thank you...." and then my heart sank.

... that is about a family (of course) ... the child plays a guitar (really, really) good, and is accepted as TG'd. She plays spanish music, and the instrument is an old ... and can anyone help me?

Hey folks! Sorry I haven't been up here in a looong time! I'll try to pop in a few fanfics in the coming year. ;)

If I could be where you are

Where are you in this moment
Only in my dreams
You’re missing but you’re always
A heartbeat from me
I’m lost now without you
I don’t know where you are
I keep watching, I keep hoping
But time keeps us apart

Is there a way I can find you
Is there a sign I should know
Is there a road I could follow
To bring you back home

Winter lies before me
Now you’re so far away
In the darkness of my dreaming
The light of you will stay
If I could be close beside you
If I could be where you are
If I could reach out and touch you

The latest comic is up now, please comment or rate it I like to know what people think about it.

here is the link.

http://wishful-thinking2.smackjeeves.com/comics/

This storm is coming on shore at Cedar Key with is only about 20 miles away from my house . The good thing is at the center the rain and winds are light, we had are rain on Sunday 12 plus inches .This is a dry (wet) run for a hurricane and hopefully this is as bad as it get this year. I have lived here 6 years and this is the first tropical type storm we have had not to bad . Stay dry HUGS EVERYBODY -- RICHIE

That last line sounds like it should be on an AB site (stay dry huggies) LOL

Conservative Right get something correct, for once.

Suze Orman Is a economic expert from Chicago and one of her expertises is women and their money.

Suze Orman show today on CNBC News channel, had a long feature on the Money worries of gay and to a lesser extent "other" marriages. I think if you are going to have a life partner type of relationship or have one, you need to see this...

(Maybe some thing for USA only but good advice for most)

The venerable American comic strip doesn't seem as popular, or as influential, as it had been when people hung on every word of Dick Tracy, L'il Abner, and Pogo. This led some to make gloomy pronouncements about the end of that art form. Is the real problem, though, not that the medium itself is dated, but that its policies regarding appropriate content are stuck in 1953?

I'm inclined toward the latter view.

Some of the peepz here know this already. I have been having problems at work for a few years now. For one due to the fact that they don't want to admit that there's a problem.

So one of the last steps in this drama happened tuesday when I got called before the retirement commission. Due to the fact that there isn't a dossier against my direct supervisor I'll be retired in a maximum of 3 months (so before october and this only if the main office doesn't decide to retire my as of next month against advice of the commission).

Well, the latest page is up, I hope that you enjoy it, if you do or you have anything constructive to say please leave a comment, I don't know if I am making a mess of things or not otherwise :).
Here is a link to the latest episode.

http://wishful-thinking2.smackjeeves.com/comics/

Enjoy!

Another book 8 chapter is posted, Book 3 2nd Edition will hopefully be available later today and i've just finished the second stanza of book 10! phew!

It would all be going quicker if i had a reliable internet connection!

ttfn

Mads

My Familiar & best Friend ShadowFax had to be put to sleep Yesterday.I have had her since she was a Kitten & I was 14 yr's old at the time & I am now 25 yr's old.So u can tell how heart broken I am right now.She was there when one of my ex-boyfriend beat the shit out of me when he found out the real reason why I wouldn't put out to him when I turn 17 yr's old.She will be missed.Rest In Peace My Friend!

Hello,

Today is the Queen’s official birthday, and as usual we have the Birthday honours list. What may be surprising is that amongst those recognised is April Ashley

Finally after 9 weeks the cast has come off my right arm .The good thing is it was a good diet plan as I could not get a spoon or fork to my mouth & I learned how to shave with my left hand.Now I am off to take a nice long shower and get all the dead skin off the arm & get it wet for the first time in over 2 months
HUGS & KISSES TO ALL MY BCTS FRIENDS -- RICHIE2

I am a Desert Shield/Storm Veteran. During the war I was a Field Artillery Surveyor in the 1st Infantry Division. As such, I directly participated in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq. This also means that I actually witnessed the results of what happened on the "Road of Death". This is the main road between Kuwait City and the Iraq border. Needless to say, the sights were not very pretty (I actually stepped on brain matter). For years now, I have been having difficulties so, I finally forced myself to go to the V.A. Medical Center in Bedford MA.

If anybody would like to do a story in the CENTER Universe please send me a PM. I am not creative enough for writing a full story, but I think my idea could be a interesting story with one of our talented authors working thier magic with thier creative minds
HUGS EVERYBODY -- RICHIE2

I LOVE THIS SITE

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/09/12141578-rid...

Angaharad? Maddy? Are you in the ride? ;-D

The latest update of Wishful Thinking is not yet coloured, the artist has some school work she needs to do, so instead she has posted the rough pencil sketch, which actually looks awesome in my opinion.

here is a link to the latest comic.

http://wishful-thinking2.smackjeeves.com/comics/1510657/8-pr...

Enjoy please.

There saying on all the Net News spots thaT CALIFORNIA'S PROP 8 (SAME SEX MARRIAGE) IS HEADED TO THE FED SUPREME COURT IN WASH. DC. I just wonder if this will change the laws in both the states that voted for Same Sex Mar or voted against Same Sex Marriage like the voters just did in North Carolina reasonantly

Janet Jackson to produce transgender documentary

June 4, 2012, 8:39 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Janet Jackson has signed on as an executive producer of a documentary on the lives of transgender people living around the world.

New York-based Brainchild Films announced Monday that Jackson was working on "Truth" and would do some of the on-camera interviews. The documentary begins production this summer and will focus on the lives and struggles of transgender persons.

Bing: Miss USA supports transgender contestants

I'm a bit confused right now about how to handle this news.

This past week I went to the doctor about my high blood pressure and mentioned the soreness around my right nipple. After examining me, he said I have gynecomastia. I guess I'm not really surprised as I am 55 yrs old, 5'8" and 245 lbs. I'm confused because I have feelings of both "not another problem" and "WOW".